Josué 18

Josué 18

Wiersbe - Seven tribes still had to have their inheritance marked out for them, and apparently they were slow to respond to the challenge. Unlike Caleb and the daughters of Zelophehad, these tribes didn’t have faith and spiritual zeal. These tribes had helped fight battles and defeat the enemy, but now they hesitated to claim their inheritance and enjoy the land God had given them. “The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, but diligence is man’s precious possession” (Pr 12:27NKJV). (Be Strong -- Joshua: Putting God's Power to Work in Your Life) Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary - Verses 2-10. After a year or more, Joshua blamed their slackness, and told them how to proceed. God, by his grace, has given us a title to a good land, the heavenly Canaan, but we are slack to take possession of it; we enter not into that rest, as we might by faith, and hope, and holy joy. How long shall it be thus with us? How long shall we thus stand in our own light, and forsake our own mercies for lying vanities? Joshua stirs the Israelites up to take possession of their lots. He is ready to do his part, if they will do theirs. Remained (Lxx translates with kataleipo)(03498) yathar meaning to be left over, to remain. Jacob was left alone after he sent his family across the river (Gen. 32:24[25]); nothing remained after the locusts came (Ex. 10:15); Absalom was thought to have killed all the king’s sons with not one remaining (2 Sam. 13:30); Isaiah prophesied to Hezekiah that nothing would be left of his kingdom (2 Kgs. 20:17); God said that when He destroyed Judah, He would leave a remnant (Ezek. 6:8). Divide (flatter) (02505) chalaq has two general meanings (1) to make smooth (slippery) or to be smooth (smooth language = flattery) and (2) divide or distribute. It signifies endow (Job 39:17), appoint (2 Ch 23:18), be a partner (Pr 29:24), or provide (Dt 4:19). Intensives imply divide up (Joel 3:2), disperse (Gen 49:7), allot (Mic 2:4), apportion (Job 21:17), assign (Neh 9:22), or distribute (Jos 18:10). People allot (give, claim) as a portion (Isa 34:17; Jer 37:12). Baker says chalaq is "A verb indicating to share, to divide. It indicates receiving or obtaining one’s share of something (1 Sam. 30:24; Jer. 37:12). It means to allot something (Deut. 4:19; 29:26[25]), to give a share to someone. Of persons it means to divide up into sections or groups or even to scatter them (Gen. 49:7; 1 Chr. 23:6; 24:3); of objects it means to divide them up (Ezek. 5:1); or distribute them (2 Chr. 23:18). It takes on the nuance of to be a sharer or partner with (Pr. 29:24)." GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 18 Seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. The reasons of this delay are unknown. The probability is, that the original survey, on which the division thus far made was founded, was so imperfect, that the remaining tribes were unwilling to have it made the basis of their respective allotments. This is to be inferred from the fact that Judah’s portion was soon found to be too large, as Joseph’s had already been found too small. The dissatisfaction expressed had led therefore to a temporary suspension of the work, till a new and more exact survey could be made. Add to this, that they appear to have become tired of the war. Their former conquests had enriched them with spoil, they were enjoying the ample provisions which had been treasured up for the use of the former inhabitants, and they became self-indulgent, slothful, and dilatory. They were now living at ease in the midst of their brethren; the regions that yet remained to be divided were remote from the station around which they were clustered, and if they went to take possession of them, they must break up their present connexions, drive their flocks and herds, and convey their wives and children to strange places, and undergo new hardships and trials. Besides this, great numbers of the Canaanites still remained in the unappropriated districts, and these, they knew, could not be expelled but at the expense of great effort, fatigue and peril. Their hearts accordingly sunk within them at the prospect. They knew the work was to be done—they wished it were done—but still they had not spirit to undertake it. ‘The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing.’ What a striking picture of the too common apathy and sluggishness of the candidate for the heavenly inheritance! How frequently is he diverted from present duties and debarred from present comforts, by giving way to slothful or timorous apprehensions of the difficulties that beset his path. Forty years after this time, the tribe of Dan had to fight for their inheritance, and it was four hundred years before the Jebusites were driven from Jerusalem. Had all the tribes proceeded with united vigor to fulfil the divine command in its utmost extent, they would not so long have been annoyed by their remaining enemies, as ‘scourges in their sides, and thorns in their eyes.’ And who does not find that corruptions gather strength by indulgence, and that graces decay for want of exercise? Therefore let us look to ourselves, that we lose not the things that we have wrought. Joshua 18:3 So Joshua said to the sons of Israel, "How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? NET Joshua 18:3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long do you intend to put off occupying the land the LORD God of your ancestors has given you? BGT Joshua 18:3 καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ ἕως τίνος ἐκλυθήσεσθε κληρονομῆσαι τὴν γῆν ἣν ἔδωκεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν NLT Joshua 18:3 Then Joshua asked them, "How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given to you? ESV Joshua 18:3 So Joshua said to the people of Israel, "How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? NIV Joshua 18:3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? How long : Jdg 18:9 Pr 2:2-6 10:4 13:4 15:19 Ec 9:10 Zep 3:16 Mt 20:6 Joh 6:27 Php 3:13,14 2Pe 1:10,11 Joshua 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JOSHUA REBUKES THE ISRAELITES FOR PROCRASTINATING So Joshua said to the sons of Israel, "How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? - KJV = "How long are you to slack to go to possess the land?" God of your fathers alludes to the patriarchs and to the covenant Yahweh made with them that promised the land. Joshua is saying that it is time to get your act together! A specific reason for their procrastination is not stated but the implication is that they should have begun to take possession. Remember they have been fighting for 7 years prior to this allocation. The Septuagint translates put off with ekluo which means to become weary or exhausted in strength, give out, even lose hear or get discouraged. THOUGHT - There are times in all of our lives when we need a "Joshua" to give us a little shove! We can all use help from others in organizing our time and our activities. Are you open when you receive a gentle push/rebuke? What area of your Christian life are your growing slack in or maybe beginning to drift away, compared to those former days when you first fell in love with Jesus (cf Rev 2:4-5+, Heb 2:1+)? Is there some portion of the "land" (some of the "abundant life" in Christ - John 10:10) on which you have failed to "place...the sole of your foot" (Joshua 1:3+), by faith, a faith that obeys fully (Nu 14:24+, Josh 14:8-9+)? Bush speaks of Israel's indifference -- They manifested no interest in, they were taking no steps towards having the requisite survey and division made. This was the essence of their offence. So, in reproving the impenitent for his neglecting to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling, and in pressing upon him the faithful discharge of every Christian duty, it is still to be understood that his first, his immediate business is to become reconciled to God, by unfeigned repentance; and thus to secure a title to eternal life. When this is done, his great concern in life is, like that of the Israelites in Canaan, to labor to enter into possession of his eternal inheritance. THOUGHT - Ponder Bush's comments. When you are born again, you are in the "land" (life), but there are still many "Canaanites" remaining (world, flesh and devil) that must daily be defeated in order for you to enter into the abundant life (Jn 10:10> Matthew Henry suggests why they 7 tribes were delaying - The countries that remained to be divided lay at a distance, and some parts of them in the hands of the Canaanites. If they go to take possession of them, the cities must be rebuilt or repaired, they must drive their flocks and herds a great way, and carry their wives and children to strange places, and this will not be done without care and pains, and breaking through some hardships” (Joshua Commentary 18). William Blaikie - Joshua is old, but his impatience with laziness and irregularity still gives sharpness to his remonstrance, “How long are ye slack to possess the land?” The ring of authority is still in his voice; it still commands obedience. More than that, the organising faculty is still active—the faculty that decides how a thing is to be done. (Joshua 18, 19 The Distribution Completed) Cyril